The United States on Wednesday sharply criticized an Israeli bill that would designate the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) as a “terrorist organization.”
“UNRWA is not a terrorist organization and we urge the Israeli government and the Knesset to suspend the passage of this legislation,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
“These attacks by the Israeli government against UNRWA are incredibly unnecessary. They do nothing to advance the cause of delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza,” he added, stressing that Washington continues to support the agency’s work.
The Israeli parliament on Monday approved in its first reading a bill designating the UN agency as a “terrorist organisation” and proposing to cut all ties with the aid agency. The text will be returned to the committee for further consideration.
Accused of employing “more than 400 terrorists”
UNRWA, which has more than 30,000 employees working to serve 5.9 million Palestinians in the region, is accused by Israel of employing “more than 400 terrorists” in the Gaza Strip.
The United States, for its part, suspended its financial contribution to the agency following accusations, never substantiated by Israel, of the possible involvement of some of its employees in the Hamas attacks of October 7.
Since then, US law has prohibited Washington from releasing funds to the agency.
Several countries, on the other hand, have resumed their contributions, including the United Kingdom at the beginning of the week. Germany, the European Union, Sweden, Japan and France have done the same.
Source: BFM TV
